Rotary sprinklers

ABSTRACT

A rotary sprinkler of the hammer-type is described wherein the arm of the sprinkler impinged by the jet is oscillatingly mounted on a pivotal axis laterally spaced from the vertical axis of rotation of the sprinkler head such that the impingement of the water jet on the arm produces a rotary torque for oscillating the hammer, while producing relatively little side-splash. In addition, the portion of the arm impinged by the water jet includes baffles substantially blocking whatever side-splash is produced.

United States Patent [191 Drori [111 3,831,853 Aug. 27, 1974 ROTARYSPRINKLERS [76] inventor: Mordeki Drori, 89 Zahal St, Kiron,

Israel [22] Filed: Mar. 26, 1973 [21] Appl. No: 344,831

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Dec. 12. 1972 Israel 41070 [52]US. Cl. 239/230, 239/233 [51] Int. Cl B05b 3/08 [58] Field of Search239/230, 231, 232, 233

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Sharp et a] .r 239/230 Erns239/233 X Friedmann et al 239/233 X 3,563,465 2/l97l Foreman 239/233 XPrimary Examiner-Lloyd L. King Assistant Examinerlohn J. Love Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Benjamin J. Barish ABSTRACT A rotary sprinkler of thehammer-type is described wherein the arm of the sprinkler impinged bythe jetis oscillatingly mounted on a pivotal. axis laterally spaced fromthe vertical axis of rotation of the sprinkler head such that theimpingement of the water jet on the arm produces a rotary torque foroscillating the hammer, while producing relatively little side-splash.In addition, the portion of the arm impinged by the water jet includesbaffles substantially blocking whatever sidesplash is produced.

10 Claims, 17 firawing Figures ROTARY SPRINKLERS BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to rotary sprinklers, andparticularly to rotary sprinklers of the type in which an arm isoscillated by the water jet impinging thereon to rotate the sprinklerhead in a series of short angular movements.

' In one form of rotary sprinkler of the foregoing type, the oscillatingarm impinged by the water jet is mounted in the same vertical plane asthe nozzle axis, usually on the axis of rotation of the sprinkler head,and is made to oscillate by the impingement of the water jet on asurface of the arm which is at an angle, in the horizontal plane, to thewater jet line. The impingement of the water jet on such a surfacedrives the arm in one direction, the arm being returned by a spring. Theoscillation of the arm in the jet stream thus not only breaks-up the jetstream, but also effects a rotational movement of the head by means of ahammer carried by the oscillating arm striking an abutment carried bythe sprinkler head.

Such a rotary sprinkler has been highly developed and has gainedwidespread use throughout the world. Nevertheless, I have noted a numberof drawbacks. One drawback is that the impingement of the water jet onthe oscillating arm, namely on the surface thereof which is angled inthe horizontal plane to the jet line in order to produce the rotarytorque, causes considerable water splash laterally of the water jetline. This produces an uneven distribution of the water over the areabeing irrigated, in that more water tends to collect close to thesprinkler because of this side-splash. In addition, where the sprinkleris of the sector-type, to irrigate a predetermined sector rather than afull circle (e.g. when irrigating the side of a field, lawn or golfcourse bordering a road or sidewalk), the sidesplash wets surfaces (e.g.the road or sidewalk) which may not be desired to be wetted, and whichmay even create a nuisance or a hazardous condition if wetted.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is toprovide an improved rotary sprinkler of the foregoing type havingadvantages in the above respects.

According to the present invention, the oscillating arm of the sprinkleris mounted on a pivotal axis parallel to but spaced laterally of thevertical plane of the nozzle axis, that is, the line along which thewater jet issues from the nozzle. The arrangement is such that theimpingement of the water jet on the arm produces a vector force coaxialwith the nozzle axis and thereby a rotary torque about the pivotal axisof the arm for oscillating the arm, while producing relatively littlesplash of the water laterally of the water jet line.

In some embodiments, the impinged portion of the arm is verticallyinclined with respect to the water jet line. Thus, the impingement ofthe water jet on the vertically inclined portion of the arm produces avector force on the arm in the direction of the water jet line, i.e.coaxial with the nozzle axis. Since the pivotal axis of the arm islaterally spaced from this water jet line, a rotary torque is producedon the arm tending to rotate it about its pivotal axis. The sidesplashcan thus be substantially reduced while still producing the requiredrotational torque for oscillating the arm.

According to a further feature of the invention, the portion of the armimpinged by the water jet includes baffle means substantially blockingsplash of the water laterally of the water jet line. Many differentarrangements of baffle means can be provided, some of which aredescribed below.

Further features and several variations of the invention are describedbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, bywayof example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, inwhich: i

' FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one form of rotary sprinklerconstructed in accordance with the invention, FIGS. 1a and 1b beingsectional views along lines A-A and B-B, respectfully;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational view partially in section along lines IIIIof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the sprinkler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of another form of oscillating armthat may be used in the sprinkler of FIG. 1-3, FIGS. 4a and 4b beingsectional views along lines AA and B-B, respectively;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the oscillating arm of FIG.

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view, partly in section, of another form ofoscillating arm that may be used, FIG. 6a being a section along linesA-A;

FIG. 7 is a top plan view, partly in section, of the oscillating arm ofFIG. 6, FIG. 7a being a section along lines AA;

FIG; 8 is a side elevational view of another form of oscillating armthat may be used, FIG. 8a being a section along lines A-A',

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the: arm of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a still further form of oscillating armthat may be used:

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The rotary sprinklerillustrated in FIGS. 1-3 is of the sector, oscillating-arm, hammer typecommonly used in irrigating predetermined sectors of a field, lawn orgolf course, such as the sides thereof bordering a road or sidewalk.

The sprinkler includes a head, generally designated 2, mountable by athreaded nut 4 to a vertical pipe (not shown) so as to be rotatableabout the vertical axis 6. The sprinkler head carries a nozzle 8 fromwhich the water supplied by the vertical pipe issues in the form of ajet along line 10 which represents the nozzled axis. It will be seen,particularly from FIG. 3, that the water jet line or nozzle axis 10 isin the same vertical plane as the rotational axis 6 of the sprinkler, sothat no rotary torque results from the reaction forces produced by theissuance of the water jet from nozzle 8.

The oscillating arm, generally designated 12, of the sprinkler is fixedvia a short right angle extension 14 (FIG. 3) to a hub 15 (FIG. 1)pivotable about vertical axis 16, which is parallel to but laterallyspaced from the vertical plane of the nozzle axis 10 and of the axis 6of rotation of the sprinkler head. Extension 14 of the arm overlies anextension 17 (FIG. 2) formed at the top of sprinkler head 4. As shown inFIG.'3, in the normal (non-pivoted) position of arm 12, the axis of theimpinged portion 18 of the arm is aligned with (ie in the same verticalplane as) the nozzle axis 10.

This impinged portion of arm 12 is of U-section, open at the top, and isinclined upwardly with respect to the nozzle axis (see FIG. 1). Thewater jet thus impinges on the inner surface of the web of the U-sectionand is splashed upwardly in line with the nozzle axis. The sides 22,23,block the splash of the water laterally of the nozzle axis 10.

The oscillating arm 12 further includes a rectangular sleeve portion 24(FIG. 1b) through which the water jet passes before impinging on theupwardly inclined web 20 of the arm.

Arm 12 is driven in one direction (counter-clockwise in FIG. 3) by theimpingement of the water jet on inclined web 18 thereof (as will bedescribed more fully below) and is returned in the opposite direction bya return spring 26. The upper end of the spring is fixed to a cap 28 andits lower end is fixed to the arm.

A hammer 30 is carried by oscillating arm 12 opposite to thejet-impinged portion of the arm. Hammer 30 strikes an abutment or anvil32, carried by the sprinkler head 2, during the return stroke of eachoscillation. This causes the sprinkler head to revolve about axis 6(clockwise in FIG. 3) in a series of short angular movements, therebeing one such movement for each strking of the hammer on the abutment.

The sprinkler, insofar as described, would continuously rotate aboutvertical axis 6. To enable the sprinkler to be used for irrigating apredetermined sector, rather than a full circle, it is provided with apair of stops 34,36 cooperable with a lever 38 extending from a housing40 in the sprinkler head. Stops 34,36 are angularly displaced from eachother and determine the boundaries of the sector being irrigated. Lever38 is carried with the rotating sprinkler head, and when it engages onestop (e.g. 36), it actuates mechanism within housing 40 to cause thesprinkler head to be driven by the oscillating arm during the forwardoscillating stroke thereof, rather than during the return stroke,whereby the direction of rotation of the sprinkler head is reversed.This reversed rotation of the head continues until its lever 38 engagesthe other stop. Such a construction is well known in sector sprinklersof this type, and therefore further details are not deemed necessary.

The operation of the sprinkler of FIGS. l-3 will be apparent from theabove. It will be seen that the water jet issuing from nozzle 8 alongline 10 impinges on the inner surface of the upwardly inclined webportion 20 of arm 12, and thereby subjects the arm to a force in thedirection of the nozzle axis 10. Since arm 12 is pivoted on axis 16which is laterally spaced from the vertical plane of the nozzle axis 10(see particularly FIG. 3), a rotational torque is produced on arm 12tending to rotate it (counterclockwise in FIG. 3) about its pivotal axis16. As soon as the arm moves out of the jet stream along line 10, thewater jet no longer impinges on it, but the arm continues to rotate byvirtue of its inertia, thereby loading spring 26. As soon as its inertiais spent, spring 26 returns the arm towards its original position,wherein its hammer 30 strikes abutment 32 causing the abutment and thesprinkler head to which it is affixed, to move a short angular-distance(clockwise in FIG. 3). Arm 12 thus oscillates back and forth veryrapidly breaking-up the jet stream and causing the sprinkler head torevolve in a series of short angular movements.

It will also be seen that in the arrangement described, the impingementof the water jet on inclined web 20 of the impinged portion 18 of theoscillating arm 12 causes some upward splash but very little side-splashbecause the axis of this impinged surface of the arm is substantially inthe same vertical plane as the jet stream line and is not angledhorizontally thereto as in the conventional rotary sprinklers of thistype. In addition, the sides 22, 23 of the impinged portion 18 of theoscillating arm act as baffles which block whatever side-splash isproduced. Thus, the sprinkler illustrated provides a more uniformdistribution of the water and substantially reduces the undesirableaccumulation of water close to the sprinkler. It also eliminates thewetting of surfaces outside the predetermined irrigation sector when thesprinkler is used for sector irrigation.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a variation in the oscillatin arm construction.In this variation, the oscillating arm, generally designated 112,includes a portion 118 impinged by the water jet, which portion is alsoof U- section (see FIG. 4a). In this case, however, the U- section isopen at the bottom and is inclined downwardly with respect to the waterjet line representing the nozzle axis. The jet thus impinges on theinner surface of the upper web to produce the force in the direction ofthe nozzle axis 110, and thereby the rotary torque about the eccentricpivotal axis 116 (FIG. 5) of the arm. Since the axis of surface 120 ofthe oscillating arm impinged by the water jet is substantially in thesame vertical plane as the nozzle axis, there will be some downwardsplash but little side-splash of the water; but whatever side splashthere is will be blocked by the sides 122, 123 of the U-section 118.These sides thus serve as baffles similar to sides 22,23 of FIGS. 1-3.

As in the oscillating arm construction of FIGS. 1-3, the oscillating arm112 of FIGS. 4 and 5 includes the rectangular sleeve 124 through whichthe water jet passes before impinging on surface 120 of the U- section118.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a still further variation in the constructionof the oscillating arm. The oscillatin arm 212 in this variationincludes a jet-impinging portion 218 which is in alignment with thewater jet line 210 representing the nozzle axis. In this case, portion218 is of circular section (FIG. 7a), but includes internal spiral vanes220 impinged by the water jet to produce the vector force in thedirection of the nozzle axis 210. The oscillating arm 212 is here alsopivotably mounted on an axis 216 (FIG. 7) which is laterally spaced fromthe vertical plane of nozzle axis 210, so that this vector forceproduces a rotary torque tending to rotate the arm about its pivotalaxis 216.

As in the previous arrangements, oscillating arm 212 includes arectangular section 224 through which the water jet passes beforeimpinging on section 218 of the arm.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a still further variation, wherein theoscillating arm, 312, is of rectangular section as shown at 324 (FIG.8a), but the end 318 of the arm is given a longitudinal twist so thatthe water jet travelling along the jet axis 310 impinges on the innersurface of the twisted portion 318 to produce the vector force in thedirection of the nozzle axis 310. As in the previous arrangements, theoscillating arm 312 is pivotably mounted on an axis 316 which islaterally displaced from the vertical plane of nozzle axis 310, andtherefore the force of the water jet produces a rotary torque aroundpivotal axis 316.

Since in both the arrangements of FIGS. 6, 7 and FIGS. 8, 9, theimpinged portion of the oscillating arm completely encloses all thelateral sides of the water jet, side-splash of the water jet, as itissues from the open end of the oscillating arm, is substantiallyblocked.

FIG. 10 illustrates a still further variation. Here the impinged portion418 of the oscillating arm and its mounting at pivotal axis 416, may beaccording to any of the arrangements discussed earlier. The hammer 430,however, carried by the oscillating arm at its opposite end, issubstantially at right angles to the arm rather than being substantiallycoaxial with the arm as in the previous arrangements. The abutment 432carried by the sprinkler head is suitably located to be en gaged byhammer 430 at the end of the return movement of the oscillating arm, asin the previous arrangements.

Many other variations, modifications, and applications of theillustrated embodiments will be apparent.

What is claimed is:

1. A rotary sprinkler including a sprinkler head mountable on a pipe tobe rotatable about a vertical axis, the sprinkler head carrying a nozzlefrom which the water issues in the form of a jet along the nozzle axis,the sprinkler head further including a spring and an arm urged in onedirection by the spring, the arm having a portion impinged by the jet tomove the arm in the opposite direction, thereby to oscillate the arm andto rotate the sprinkler head and the nozzle about said vertical axis,characterized in that said oscillating arm is pivotably mounted on anaxis parallel to but spaced laterally of the vertical plane of thenozzle axis such that the impingement of the water jet on the armproduces a vector force coaxial with said nozzle axis and, thereby, arotary torque about said pivotal axis of the arm for oscillating thearm.

2. A rotary sprinkler including a sprinkler head mountable on a pipe tobe rotatable about a vertical axis, the sprinkler head carrying a nozzlefrom which the water issues in the form of a jet along the nozzle axis,the nozzle axis being in the same vertical plane as the axis of rotationof the sprinkler head, the sprinkler head further including a spring andan arm urged in one direction by the spring, the arm having a portionimpinged by the jet to move the arm in the opposite direction,'therebyto oscillate the arm and to rotate the sprinkler head and the nozzleabout said vertical axis,

said oscillating arm being pivotably mounted on an axis parallel to butspaced laterally of the vertical plane of the nozzle axis, the impingedportion of the arm being coaxial with the nozzle axis, the impingementof the water jet on the arm producing a vector coaxial with the nozzleaxis and, thereby, a rotary torque about pivotal axis of the arm foroscillating the arm.

3. A sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein said impinged portion ofthe arm includes baffle means substantially blocking splash of the waterlaterally of nozzle axis.

4. A sprinkler according to claim 3, wherein said impinged portion ofthe arm is of U-section and is open at the top, the web of the U-section being inclined upwardly with respect to the nozzle axis so as tobe-im pinged by the water jet, the sides of the U-section serving assaid baffle means substantially blocking splash of the water laterallyof the nozzle axis.

5. A sprinkler according to claim 3, wherein said impinged portion ofthe arm is of U-section and is open at the bottom, the web of theU-section being inclined downwardly with respect to the nozzle axis soas to be impinged by the water jet, the sides of the U-section servingas said baffle means substantially blocking splash of the waterlaterally of the nozzle axis.

6. A sprinkler according to claim 3, wherein the impinged portion of thearm is in the form of a sleeve, the water jet being directedtherethrough and impinging on the inner surface thereof, the sides ofthe sleeve serving as said baffle means substantially blocking splash ofthe water laterally of the nozzle axis.

7. A sprinkler according to claim 6, wherein the inner surface of thesleeve is formed with internal spiral vanes which are impinged by thewater jet.

8. A sprinkler according to claim 6, wherein said sleeve is ofrectangular section and is twisted longitudinally thereof, the innersurface of the twisted sleeve being impinged by the water jet.

9. A sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein said oscillating armcarries a hammer at the end opposite to the jet-impinged portion thereofand substantially coaxial therewith, said hammer engaging an abutment ofthe sprinkler head during the oscillation of the arm to rotate thesprinkler head and nozzle.

10. A sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein said oscillating armcarries a hammer at the end opposite to the jet-impinged portion thereofand substantially at right angles thereto, said hammer engageing anabutment on the sprinkler head during the oscillation of the arm torotate the sprinkler head andnozzle.

* l= l =l=

1. A rotary sprinkler including a sprinkler head mountable on a pipe tobe rotatable about a vertical axis, the sprinkler head carrying a nozzlefrom which the water issues in the form of a jet along the nozzle axis,the sprinkler head further including a spring and an arm urged in onedirection By the spring, the arm having a portion impinged by the jet tomove the arm in the opposite direction, thereby to oscillate the arm andto rotate the sprinkler head and the nozzle about said vertical axis,characterized in that said oscillating arm is pivotably mounted on anaxis parallel to but spaced laterally of the vertical plane of thenozzle axis such that the impingement of the water jet on the armproduces a vector force coaxial with said nozzle axis and, thereby, arotary torque about said pivotal axis of the arm for oscillating thearm.
 2. A rotary sprinkler including a sprinkler head mountable on apipe to be rotatable about a vertical axis, the sprinkler head carryinga nozzle from which the water issues in the form of a jet along thenozzle axis, the nozzle axis being in the same vertical plane as theaxis of rotation of the sprinkler head, the sprinkler head furtherincluding a spring and an arm urged in one direction by the spring, thearm having a portion impinged by the jet to move the arm in the oppositedirection, thereby to oscillate the arm and to rotate the sprinkler headand the nozzle about said vertical axis, said oscillating arm beingpivotably mounted on an axis parallel to but spaced laterally of thevertical plane of the nozzle axis, the impinged portion of the arm beingcoaxial with the nozzle axis, the impingement of the water jet on thearm producing a vector coaxial with the nozzle axis and, thereby, arotary torque about pivotal axis of the arm for oscillating the arm. 3.A sprinkler according to claim 1, wherein said impinged portion of thearm includes baffle means substantially blocking splash of the waterlaterally of nozzle axis.
 4. A sprinkler according to claim 3, whereinsaid impinged portion of the arm is of U-section and is open at the top,the web of the U-section being inclined upwardly with respect to thenozzle axis so as to be impinged by the water jet, the sides of theU-section serving as said baffle means substantially blocking splash ofthe water laterally of the nozzle axis.
 5. A sprinkler according toclaim 3, wherein said impinged portion of the arm is of U-section and isopen at the bottom, the web of the U-section being inclined downwardlywith respect to the nozzle axis so as to be impinged by the water jet,the sides of the U-section serving as said baffle means substantiallyblocking splash of the water laterally of the nozzle axis.
 6. Asprinkler according to claim 3, wherein the impinged portion of the armis in the form of a sleeve, the water jet being directed therethroughand impinging on the inner surface thereof, the sides of the sleeveserving as said baffle means substantially blocking splash of the waterlaterally of the nozzle axis.
 7. A sprinkler according to claim 6,wherein the inner surface of the sleeve is formed with internal spiralvanes which are impinged by the water jet.
 8. A sprinkler according toclaim 6, wherein said sleeve is of rectangular section and is twistedlongitudinally thereof, the inner surface of the twisted sleeve beingimpinged by the water jet.
 9. A sprinkler according to claim 1, whereinsaid oscillating arm carries a hammer at the end opposite to thejet-impinged portion thereof and substantially co-axial therewith, saidhammer engaging an abutment of the sprinkler head during the oscillationof the arm to rotate the sprinkler head and nozzle.
 10. A sprinkleraccording to claim 1, wherein said oscillating arm carries a hammer atthe end opposite to the jet-impinged portion thereof and substantiallyat right angles thereto, said hammer engageing an abutment on thesprinkler head during the oscillation of the arm to rotate the sprinklerhead and nozzle.